Fermented meat with a side of maggots: A new look at the Neanderthal diet

Scientists are gaining new insights into the dietary habits of Neanderthals by analyzing stable nitrogen isotope ratios found in ancient remains. This method allows researchers to reconstruct what these early humans consumed, moving beyond traditional fossil evidence. The findings suggest that Neanderthals incorporated a wider variety of foods into their diets than previously understood, potentially including fermented meats and even insects like maggots.

Understanding Neanderthal diets provides crucial context for their survival strategies, their relationship with their environment, and their evolutionary divergence from modern humans.